20. Osiris
On the mountain to the left of all three Deir el Bahari temples is seen the simulacrum of Osiris. In order to see him, the shadowing from the sun must be appropriate. The sun throws the appropriate shadows on the mountain in the early morning and late evening, making certain times of the day best for observations. If there is too much sunlight, the image of the judgment Osiris does not appear at all. The simulacrum of Osiris is very interesting in that its disarticulated appearance reminds one of the Osiris myths and the battles between Osiris and Seth, the resulting dismemberment and the reassembling (or first mummy) made by Isis.
Osiris is also known as Ausar, a name that means "he who is seen." Osiris is known in the text as “Lord of the West,” “Lord of the Duat,” and “Neter of the Underworld and Resurrection.” The myth of Osiris claims he was born of Thebes (modern Luxor). Therefore Thebes is appropriately the earliest cult center for the judgment practice. His role in the judgment is to make the final call for either rebirth or annihilation. Osiris is seen seated in the throne with his arms in the judgment position, holding the crook and flail with fists opposing each other and wearing the Atef Crown, the white crown flanked by two feather plumes. His body is that of a mummy representing his physical likeness. The likeness is symbolic of spirit enclosed in matter that remains intact even in the hereafter.
Standing Osiris
The simulacrum of Osiris as the seated judge of the Duat has already been described, but standing directly next to the seated figure is a second form of Osiris. Along the third tier of Hatshepsut’s Temple we see statuary of Hatshepsut in this second form of Osiris, standing as a mummy with arms crossed, holding the crook and flail. The statues of Hatshepsut in the form of Osiris appear closely associated with the simulacra of Osiris and in the same posture. So close is this association that they can be photographed together. Osiris appears twice in the same hillside area, in both-known forms, sitting on the throne and standing.
Osiris Below the Gurn
The position of Osiris in relation to the Gurn merits special attention. In depictions of Osiris from the Papyrus of Ani, Osiris is seen located below the Gurn. In order to get the proper correlations between the Osiris simulacrum and the Gurn, one only needs to move to the northern side of the Deir el Bahari cove, where Osiris aligns with the Gurn. This is a positive confirmation that Osiris was identified in the form of a simulacrum by the ancient Egyptians.
Not only is the Osiris seated in the throne depicted under the Gurn in the Papyrus of Ani, but so is the standing Osiris whose simulacrum is also located below the Gurn from this perspective.
(plate 10 the book of Going Forth by Day, bracket 1)
As for that day ‘come to me’, it means that Osiris said to Re, ‘Come to me that I may see you’ --- so said he in the west.
I am his twin souls which are within the Two Fledglings.
Who is he? He is Osiris when he entered into Mendes. He found the soul of Re there and they embraced each other. Then his twin souls came into being.
